DinendelDucky

Week 2 in La Liga -Lutherville Press (LP) The surprises in Primera continued this week, the biggest of these surprises coming with the name of SiPS and Duckies. The two promoted teams from last year continue to crash the party of the perennial Primera teams. For the second week in a row the new teams pulled off draws against "Big 3" teams. It was a week of exciting finishes, with two of the four games having critical goals come in injury time. Atlético was just seconds away from falling in defeat to SiPS but received a desperation, short-sided, goal from Farriá-Forreiró in the third minute of extra time. The Duckies also received a lift when, down a man, Boto found the net in the 91st minute. Both of these games finished deadlocked and contributed to our jammed table. Other headlines from week two include, Arcadia failing to get three points once again, this week at Roja, and very quietly, the Springboks have taken the top of the table. Amazingly, through 2 weeks, 75% of the table is undefeated at the same time as 75% of the teams have yet to have a single victory. This could be the most competitive group of teams to compete in the Primera in it's short history. Results Atlético Luz Del Mar 3 - 3 SiPS Poss%: 50-50 SoG: 5-7 Scoreline: ALDM: Ochotorena (8'), Vizcaíno (26'), Farriá-Forreiró (93') SiPS: Rouhiainen (44'), Rasimus (54', 72') Subs: ALDM: Asenjo in for Mugerza (29') SiPS: Salomäki in for Tenhola (56') Bookings: Cavaní (Y, 27'; 2Y/R, 89') VolNation Volunteers 3 - 3 1984 Duckies FC Poss%: 59-41 SoG: 7-6 Scoreline: Vols: Atkinson (5', 42'), Goodwin (79') 1984: Mahony (57'), Pitt (64'), Boto (91') Subs: Vols: Rich in for Stewart (83') Bookings: 1984: Pedersen (Y, 34'; 2Y/R, 83') Estrella Roja 2 - 2 Arcadia FC Poss%: 53-47 SoG: 5-2 Scoreline: Roja: OG Napieralski (45'), Yebga (52') AFC: Kewell (12'), Fitzpatrick (55') Subs: AFC: Traversa in for Fitzpatrick (67') Bookings: Roja: Asturias (Y, 55'), Garro (Y, 79') AFC: Kewell (Y, 32') Swamplandia Sinners 0 - 3 Transvaal Springboks Poss%: 50-50 SoG: 2-8 Scoreline Boks: Brennan (6', 74'), Deinsen (60') Subs: SS: Battle in for Cardoso (37') Bookings: SS: Clay (Y, 14'), Li (Y, 54') Boks: Witchge (Y, 4'), van der Meer (Y, 27'), Baako (Y, 40'), Hörtnagl (Y, 56'), van Buyten (Y, 75') Serie Segunda: Spartak MK 4 - 0 Rivendell FC Voobaha National 6 - 0 Clyde Albion Estrellapuerto FC 3 - 0 FC Stalybridge Keville United FC 0 - 1 FC Franzharia Serie Tercera: Boltonia 2 - 1 Dragonia United FC El Entrego 5 - 0 Durkastan Compostela Artois 1 - 0 FC Jekerger

I believe Voo will earn one of them, the other one is up for grabs though.

Week 2 Preview -The Lutherville Press (LP) After one week, the Primera looks to be very wide open. This could be the year of all sorts of storylines, Repeats, Return to Glory, Fall from Glory, Primera Party Crashers, are all headlines that could manifest this season. But let's slow down and take a look at the upcoming week. Game of the Week: SiPS @ ALDM It is always nice to be on top, that is how the season ended last year for Atlético and that is how the tables look right now. Atlético are coming off of a good season opening victory against the Sinners, where their defense seemingly erected a brick wall in the back, but there are still questions about their validity as "top club." Though reality says that this week's matchup against SiPS will not stop speculation, a loss will only fuel the flames. Truely this is a lose-lose situation for ALDM, especially at home, though nobody can object that a win will keep them safely at the top of the table. SiPS are about to travel for their first ever road game against one of the "Big Three." In week one the SiPS gave a clinic on the execution and importance of finishing in a match. Their big star was Petteri Eerikäinen who put the ball in the ol' onion bag twice. The question is, can the club feed on their momentum and carry it forward this week? The question this week becomes, can SiPS work their way around the Atlético backfield without providing too many opportunities to their opponent? This game looks as though it will be too much for SiPS to handle and GM Calderon will come out 3 points closer to a repeat. ALDM 2 - 0 SiPS Other Matches: VolNation Volunteers 3 - 1 1984 Duckies FC These two teams did not start the season how people predicted they would. For the Volunteers it was a disappointment to come out with only a point last week. However for the Duckies it was impressive. The Duckies continue their road trip this week and neutral observers cannot help but believe that there is no way they will continue their luck. Also look for the Volunteers to come out fired up after last week's letdown. Estrella Roja 1 - 4 Arcadia FC It is only the beginning of the season, but Roja seem to be in hot water already. Week one saw them start off the season with a defeat and they are hoping that this week they can regain some momentum with the help of their home crowd. The Arcadia players are not in a good mood this week and are already planning on taking out their aggression on Roja, against whom they went unbeaten against last season through 4 matches. Swamplandia Sinners 2 - 3 Transvaal Springboks The Springboks have not been a popular pick to finish at the top of the table this year. However after one week they find themselves at the top and are now tasked with staying in that place. This week they travel to Swamplandia to see if they can complete that task. The Sinners on the other hand are trying their best to right their ship, which has early in the season sunk to the bottom of the table. Three points at home would no doubt help them to at least the middle of the table. Serie Segunda: Voobaha National 3 - 1 Clyde Albion Estrellapuerto FC 2 - 0 FC Stalybridge Spartak MK 3 - 0 Rivendell FC Keville United FC 2 - 2 FC Franzharia Serie Tercera: Compostela Artois 2 - 1 FC Jekerger El Entrego 3 - 0 Durkastan Boltonia 2 - 1 Dragonia United FC

I don't mind it

True

Week 1 in La Liga -Lutherville Press (LP) Week 1 in La Liga was a real shake up to the status quo of the league. As a matter of fact, about the only constant that a fan can feel comfortable with right now is that ALDM is up at the top of the table. Long time standard in Primera, Roja, fell to the bottom of the table with a defeat to Transvaal along with the victim of the ALDM match, the Sinners. The biggest shocker of the week is that the two teams picked to finish at the top of the table, struggled in week one against newly promoted teams. The Volunteers struggled on the road against a strong SiPS team. The SiPS squad thrived on their home ground, capitalizing on all of their shot attempts in the match to earn a point in their first ever top division match. Arcadia was thoroughly frustrated at home this week by a Duckies lineup that thwarted all 4 of their attempts on goal (all of which came in the second half), and rubbed it in by controlling the possession in the second half in front of an unhappy red and black clad crowd. Results: Atlético Luz Del Mar 1 - 0 Swamplandia Sinners Poss%: 56-44 SoG: 7-0 Scoreline: ALDM: Lois Luis (60') Subs: ALDM: Gilberto Brito for Rosario Padin (30') SS: Buck Clay for Barry Joseph (75') Bookings: N/A SiPS 2 - 2 VolNation Volunteers Poss%: 50-50 SoG: 2-4 Scoreline: SiPS: Petteri Eerikäinen (31', 59') Vol: Chad Goodwin (24', 71') Subs: N/A Bookings: N/A Transvaal Springboks 3 - 0 Estrella Roja Poss%: 54-46 SoG: 5-3 Scoreline: TS: Ricardo van Deinsen (65'), Matthias Rieger (75'), Charles Brennan (82') Subs: Emmanuel Hörtnagl for Detlef Botha (70') Bookings: TS: Detlef Botha (Y, 43') ER: Eduardo Begoña (Y, 21') Hector Chema (Y, 61') Arcadia FC 0 - 0 1984 Duckies FC Poss%: 49-51 SoG: 4-2 Scoreline: N/A Subs: N/A Bookings: 1984: Marius Negreanu (Y, 3'), Karl Reimar Pedersen (Y, 23'), Arvid Bynke Carlsen (Y, 44') Serie Segunda: Rivendell FC 0 - 4 Voobaha National FC Stalybridge 1 - 5 Clyde Albion Spartak MK 3 - 0 Keville United FC FC Franzharia 1- 1 Estrellapuerto FC Serie Tercera: Dun Carrig Bohs 2 - 1 Boltonia Dragonia United FC 2 - 1 FC Jekerger Durkastan 0 - 0 Compostela Artois

Wait, what about me?

Week 1 Preview -The Lutherville Press (LP) Match of the week Estrella Roja @ Transvaal Springboks Of course the opening week of the season is always an opportunity to assess the form of the teams. It is also an opportunity to begin predicting the team's spot in the league. This week's MotW involves a team predicted to be second tier finishers, and one team which has been predicted early to be fighting for their Primera lives this season. Roja has played no friendlies this offseason and many have taken that as a poor sign of the club's direction. However they can prove themselves this week if they can steal some points on the road from the 'Boks. The Springboks hope to show that they have improved this offseason. It has been a busy time for the club as they played a brutal friendly schedule to train up some of their youngsters. However their starting core of players looks to be very similar to their squad last year, as last season's assist machine Matthias Rieger looks to get the team back into contention for the league. In order for the team to have a healthy showing they need to win the matches in which they are favored, starting with Roja at home this week. Look for the 'Boks to come out hungry and put up an early goal to set the tone of the match. Prediction Transvaal Springboks 3 - 1 Estrella Other Matches: SiPS 1 - 4 VolNation Volunteers What is it that a newly promoted team doesn't want to run into in their first home match in Serie Primera? How about three time Liga Champions! SiPS face a large task in week one as they attempt to justify their promotion against the dynasty of the league. Atlético Luz Del Mar 3 - 0 Swamplandia Sinners Swamplandia was the beneficiary of an expanding league this offseason as they avoided relegation and were gifted a second shot at the top league. And this season starts the same as last for these two teams. Last season Swamplandia opened up to a 4-0 defeat on the road against the eventual Liga Champions. Few will dispute that Swamplandia hasn't grown as a team since that time however. Unfortunately that won't change the outcome as ALDM will be riding high following their successful campaign last season. Arcadia FC 4 - 0 1984 Duckies FC Arcadia is the best team in La Liga that has yet to claim the championship, this year many are picking them as the team that will win it all. That is so long as they don't drop any silly points. The Duckies are were the surprise team in Serie Segunda last year and this first week look to undergo baptism by fire in their first Primera match which just happens to be on the road. Serie Segunda Rivendell FC 1 - 3 Voobaha National Spartak MK 2 - 1 Keville United FC FC Stalybridge 2 - 1 Clyde Albion FC Franzharia 2 - 2 Estrellapuerto FC Serie Tercera Durkastan 0 - 2 Compostela Artois Dun Carrig Bohs 3 - 2 Boltonia Dragonia United FC 4 - 1 FC Jekerger

The Duckies are upset at their schedule. We have a feeling it might be hoping for to much to steal 3 points in the first half of the season. Though we expect at least 9 points in the final half. Edit: Can't start in third person and end in first

The general consensus in GATO seems to be... Welcome to brown! (And some of us who have been around for a while are glad to see Ivan back.)

Go Duckies!